What is the maximum age to join the US military?

Answer 1

By federal law (10 U.S.C., 510), the minimum age for enlistment in the United States Military is 17 (with parental consent) and the maximum age is 42. This is to ensure than anyone who enlists on active duty can be eligible for retirement (20 years of service) at the mandatory age of 55 (60 in some cases). However, DOD policy allows the individual services to specify the maximum age of enlistment based upon their own unique requirements. The individual services have set the following maximum ages for non-prior service enlistment:


Active Army - 42
Army Reserves - 42
Active Air Force - 27
Air Force Reserve - 34
Active Navy - 34
Naval Reserves - 39
Active Marines - 28
Marine Corps Reserve - 29
Active and Reserve Coast Guard - 27

However, prior service enlistees can receive an "age waiver." In most cases, the amount of age that can be waived depends upon the amount of time the individual previously spent in the military. For example, let's say that an individual has four years of credible military service in the Marine Corps and wants to join the Air Force. The Air Force could waive the individual's maximum enlistment age to age 31 (Maximum age of 27 for the Air Force, plus four years credible service in the Marines). For the Marine Corps, the maximum age of enlistment for prior service is 32, after computing the prior-service age adjustment.

For the Army National Guard, the maximum age for non-prior service enlistment is age 39. For the Air National Guard, it's 34. For prior service, the maximum age is 59, as long as the member is able to complete 20 years of creditable service for retirement by age 60.

Answer 2

Each branch varies. Also if you have prior service the age can be extended. Most branches are now between 34 and 40 with no prior service. I would check the individual web sites for the different branches, i.e. navy.mil, army.mil, airforce.mil, etc.

Answer 3

For the Army, 42.

Answer 4

They just raised the age limit. You can enter in at a maxium age of 42.

Answer 5

Each branch varies but they just raised the limit. I think generally speaking it's around 42

Answer 6

Last I checked the age was 40.

Answer 7

They are raising the age that they can call people back in; they are killing the young off so fast they are looking for the old who don't mind not getting any older.

Answer 8

Typically for active duty it's 27, but depending on the branch, those can be waived.